Athens Fire & Rescue battalion chiefs will soon get raises after City Council members recently agreed to eliminate the department’s assistant chief position and give raises to the three battalion chiefs who have taken on assistant chief duties.

City Council members approved the changes Monday.

Fire Chief Bryan Thornton told The News Courier he recommended eliminating the assistant chief job because it is no longer occupied since he became chief and because the battalion chiefs “have assumed those duties — maintenance for all stations and equipment.”

He said the battalion chiefs will also help with budgeting, which they have never done before.

Marsha Sloss, director of Human Resources for the city, said pay for the new battalion chief position will now have a starting pay of $59,000. She did not yet know the cap on the salary because that has to be determined over the next two weeks.